Here it is the ending, thank you for everyone who has been reading and reviewing, and to my followers and favuorites, hope you all enjoy the ending, xxx
Jeff led Dixie out the court, she was shaking from the event that had occurred inside, Jeff couldn't believe what happened in there himself, he couldn't believe how low Mick was willing to go. His mind traced back to when Dixie was questioned, Jeff wanted to pick her up and take her away from it all, but all he could do was sit and watch.
"Mrs Collier, would you tell the court more about your Accusations towards my client? Why don't you start at the beginning" Mick's lawyer was opposite Dixie pacing the room, Dixie sat thinking of how she was going to answer. She needed to remain strong, she needed to hope that Mick would be put away. She answered calmly, and praying that she wouldn't be asked to many questions about what Mick had done, she didn't want to go into detail.
"When he arrived, he wanted to work a shift with Jeff, from that point on he was trying to spilt us up" Dixie started, pausing for breath and looking to Jeff who was giving her a comforting smile, she just wanted him to hold her and be In his arms.
"What do you mean split you up?" The lawyer asked, interrupting Dixie from her thoughts.
"He turned Jeff against me, made Jeff believe him instead of me"
"How did he do that exactly?" The lawyer questioned, smiling towards Dixie. Dixie glanced to Mick who was in hand cuffs smirking at her, he knew exactly what he had done.
"He hurt me, made me feel vulnerable I still feel vulnerable. He lied to Jeff, lied to him about where I was, if it wasn't for my husband knowing I wouldn't leave him, I would have been left in that warehouse to die" Dixie felt her eyes watering, she didn't want to say all of this, she was just hoping it was going to help.
"You see, that doesn't quite add up. I think, that your husband didn't believe you because he knew you were lying, and you are still lying now aren't you Mrs Collier?" Jeff took a deep breath and tried to calm himself, he was annoyed at not believing Dixie but he believed her now and knew she was telling the truth.
"No, no I'm not, he has tried to kill me many times, tried to rape me, touched me without my consent, and you cannot ignore that he has been treating patients with no qualifications" Dixie remained calm while saying this, but it didn't stop the tears from falling she was desperately trying to remain a sense of composure, but it was all too much.
"Ah, this is something else. You were the duty manager at the time Mick came as a paramedic at Holby, isn't that correct?"
"Yes it is" Dixie was making direct eye contact with his lawyer, hoping that she would stop asking the questions, she knew Mick was guilty of what he did to her, she just wasn't saying this.
"That means, you failed your job, as you failed to spot that he had such a lack of experience"
"I informed the trust, I told them I didn't trust him and that I would prefer it if they sent somebody else to replace him, but they didn't so it isn't my fault" Dixie tried to hold back the tears, but it wasn't working.
"Would you describe yourself as stubborn Mrs Collier?"
"Yes, at times I can be, but what has that got to do with anything?" Dixie asked, wiping away her tears she hated everybody seeing her like this, strangers seeing her cry and breaking down.
"If you were stubborn enough, you would have refused to take on the responsibility of taking Mick as a paramedic?"
Dixie remained silent, and looked to Jeff, he felt so helpless watching her being questioned like that.
Jeff shock his head, to stop all the memories of the court case coming back to him, the memories of Dixie crying in front of the whole court, and not being allowed to go and comfort her.
"Jeff can we just go home now" Dixie asked, moving herself into Jeff. He wrapped his arms around her, leading her to the car he nodded unable to speak as he was still in shock from what happened.
He made sure she was sat in the car securely with the seat belt on, before taking her home the drive home was long and awkward both of them lost in their own thoughts.
When they arrived home, Dixie went up the stairs getting changed out of her court clothes and into her pyjamas. It had been a long day, she wanted to feel relaxed and comfortable. Jeff was lost for words, he didn't know what he would be able to say to her to calm her down or make her feel any better about herself.
"Jeff you should take Abs for a walk" Dixie said weakly, making her way into her bedroom and lying on the bed. Jeff nodded and left her, knowing she would need time to allow things to sink in. He took Abs out of the house, leading him down the path, letting his mind trace back to what happened in the court, and what Mick's lawyer had done to Dixie.
"Mrs Collier, would you like to tell the court why you tried to take your own life?" Mick's lawyer smiled once more to Dixie, she was already in tears, she just wanted Jeff to hold her.
"Mick made me feel so alone, so alone that I had nothing left to live for" Dixie managed to say just loud enough for the court to hear, she was shaking and petrified but she was trying not to show it.
"No, It wasn't Mick who made you feel alone at all. It was your Husband who has been abusing you, my client did nothing to you, you are just trying to protect Mr Collier" Mick's lawyer was now beginning to blame Jeff, Jeff was looking to the floor he would never forgive himself for hitting Dixie but he would never lay a finger on her again.
"No, that isn't true. Me and Jeff are in a loving relationship, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't feel safe in my own home" Dixie was doing her best to stop the court blaming Jeff, she loved him more than anything she wasn't going to let him take the blame.
Jeff could remember Dixie's face when she said this, she looked distraught, he couldn't believe that Mick was still trying to blame him for hurting Dixie. Thankfully many of the ED members of staff were questioned to, they all stuck up for him and Dixie, especially Tom and Tamzin if it wasn't for them Mick wouldn't have been put away at all. His mind then traced back to when Mick was sentenced.
Jeff was clinging hold of Dixie, hoping they were going to get some justice so they could move on with their life's, either way Jeff knew he would be massively protective of Dixie he hadn't let go off her at all, only when they were being questioned he wanted her safe in his arms where he knew he could protect her.
"Jury, how do you find Mick Williams on the charges of acting as a paramedic with no qualifications?" The lawyer stood up, facing the jury.
"Guilty" They echoed back, Jeff knew this was something he wouldn't be able to wriggle his way out off.
"How do you find Mick Williams on the charges of Bodily harm?" The lawyer asked, still facing the jury it took them longer to reply this time.
"Guilty"
"And finally how do you find Mick Williams on the charges of grooming, and attempted rape" Jeff held Dixie tighter, Dixie had her head in his chest she didn't want to look at the man who hurt her.
"Not guilty" Jeff gasped, he couldn't believe he had got away with touching Dixie.
He felt sick and cringed at the thought of him touching Dixie, he could remember how scared she was and how vulnerable she was, is. 8 years wasn't enough for what he did, Jeff wanted him behind bars and throwing away the key, he wanted the death sentence for him more though.
Jeff thought Abs had enough of walking for today, and he wanted to go back and comfort Dixie, the fresh air had given him time to think of what he was going to say to comfort her. He got back home letting Abs of the leash, then going up the stairs finding Dixie sobbing in the bed. Jeff sat next to her stroking her hair softly, Dixie knew it was only Jeff next to her so moved herself closer into his arms.
"Jeff you don't think I am mad do you?" She continued to sob, remembering all the questions and answers at the court case.
"Babe, you are not mad. Now you listen to me, they shouldn't have spoken to you like they did in that court room. You are my beautiful, loving , compassionate Dixie and I love you to bits, now we need to move on" He sat her up, holding her close, feeling her nod into his chest, Jeff was hoping Mick would have gone down for longer, but 8 years was still an achievement. He could remember hearing the verdict, he was so happy Mick was put away, but he should have been put away a lot longer for what he did. More importantly he couldn't believe that he got away with the charges for touching Dixie, he had no right to do what he did to her.
"Dix here is what we are going to do, we need to get away for a bit, take a break and go on holiday somewhere" He wanted to take her away somewhere nice, she deserved it after everything they had been through.
"Jeff I have only just got my job back, we can't go on holiday now" Dixie gasped, she loved the idea but she had only just got her job back, going on holiday may ruin her chances of keeping it.
"Too late princess, I have already booked it, we need a break. Something to give us a fresh start"
"Thank you Jeff"
"That's ok babe, it should be me thanking you. You were so bloody strong in there" Jeff was proud of his wife, she continued talking even through the tough times, he was proud of her continuing to answer the unnecessary questions.
"No I wasn't I cried the whole way through" Dixie hated showing her emotions, but she couldn't help it, she didn't like the fact he wasn't found guilty of touching her, she knew It had happened and so did he and he still got away with it.
"But you still put your opinion across, when Mick was there. I am so proud of you, and I am proud to have you by my side and call you Mrs Collier"
"You mean it Jeff"
"Of course, I love you" Jeff put his hand under her chin carefully, making her look into his eyes.
"I love you too" Dixie said, Jeff moved his hand to her hair stroking it softly. Their lips were touching, and Dixie moved her hands to Jeff's waist pulling him closer as their kiss deepened. Jeff pulled out, and began placing soft kisses on her neck, as they laid together on the bed continuing the kissing. This was going to be the beginning of their fresh start together, becoming a proper couple. Replacing the bad memories with new good ones, Jeff was hoping their future would be a happy one and that he could make Dixie happy, but at the moment he was too lost in the moment to be thinking about bad things, all that mattered now was Dixie and making this a night to remember, to celebrate their freedom from Mick.
